Instructions: For each question, read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully. Choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): BIMSTEC replaced SAARC as the primary South Asian economic cooperation platform.
Reason (R): SAARC failed due to lack of sectoral leadership among its members.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Explanation
Assertion (A) is true because BIMSTEC (Bayis of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) has effectively emerged as the primary platform for South Asian economic cooperation, overshadowing SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) in recent years. This shift is primarily driven by India's strategic move to revitalize regional integration after SAARC summits were indefinitely stalled.
Reason (R) is also true as SAARC faced immense functional challenges, including a lack of committed sectoral leadership, institutional inefficiencies, and the absence of strong political will among its members to implement agreed-upon projects.
However, R is not the correct explanation of A. The primary reason why BIMSTEC replaced SAARC as the dominant platform is not merely the internal sectoral leadership issues of SAARC, but rather the deep-rooted bilateral tensions and political deadlocks between India and Pakistan, which repeatedly paralyzed SAARC's functioning.
Key Points
BIMSTEC bridges South Asia and Southeast Asia, connecting five South Asian nations (India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka) with two Southeast Asian nations (Myanmar, Thailand). Unlike SAARC, which requires total consensus and has often been held hostage to India-Pakistan rivalry, BIMSTEC provides a more cohesive, action-oriented, and friction-free environment for regional trade, connectivity, and security cooperation.
Additional Facts
SAARC was established in 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but its progress has been virtually halted since the postponement of the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled for Islamabad in 2016 following the Uri terror attack. In contrast, BIMSTEC, founded through the Bangkok Declaration in 1997, adopted its formal Charter during the 5th Summit in 2022, legally strengthening its institutional framework. BIMSTEC divides its cooperation into specific sectors led by individual member states, with India steering the security and counter-terrorism pillar.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Where are the permanent secretariats of SAARC and BIMSTEC located respectively?
Answer: The permanent secretariat of SAARC is located in Kathmandu, Nepal, while the permanent secretariat of BIMSTEC is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Question: What is the primary difference in geographic scope between SAARC and BIMSTEC?
Answer: SAARC is purely a South Asian regional organization consisting of 8 member states, whereas BIMSTEC is a trans-regional organization that serves as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, binding the countries around the Bay of Bengal.